Manta - Der Film

....all other keep away. It's a funny parody that can only be understood by Germans that have grown up in the ugly 80's and proletarian 90's.

If you did grow up in that time period and are German, you already know this film and if you did not - don't watch it.

It tells the story about not any group of people but people driving a Manta (build by Opel). This car has gained cult status which peaked during this time period. Drivers could be identified by their Mullets, slick stone washed jeans, cowboy boots (best worn OVER the jeans), raccoon tails on the antenna, lowered chassis and -do not forget- hairdressers as girlfriends.

This movie is a contemporary witness to the ugliness of 80's Germany. For that, it must be liked.

I have to admit I thought this was the one with Til Schweiger. Seems they did two Manta movies (car from Opel) on the back of all the Manta jokes. People did not like that car at all. As the movie proves here too - a lot of jokes are being made about the car and its owner.

The main character is quite bland though and his love for a woman does not make anyone get too excited. The beginning for some reason is inspired by a horror movie and while it does have some merits when it tries to be PC (in the 90s? Color me surprised), the overall feeling is not of one that you really have to watch this movie. I can only imagine that the other Manta movie is better ...

I liked this film. It has the same set of values as Manta Manta, so the comments for that film also apply here. Like "Manta Manta", the number of Mantas in this film will not disappoint Manta fans. Elements of the car chases are even the same with the car driving up onto the car transporter and the car driving into the river (although unlike "Manta Manta" this one floats and drives on the water).

It revolves around a young lads daydreams which include his girlfriend and passing his driving test and getting a Manta GTE. The story also concerns two rival gangs, one is the Manta Club and the other is the Golf GTi club. The friction between the two gangs generates a couple of good car chases (one to the theme of Radar Love!).

The film gets off to a good start with the guy daydreaming that he uses a white Golf GTi to rescue his girlfriend from the clutches of a sinister black Manta making menacing hydraulic rumblings, that is chasing her round a deserted train station. There is a great scene with everyone jumping into a row of black golf GTi and doing a raid on the rival manta gangs patch using inspector Clouseau style comedy bombs, which detonate into confetti!

The film descends into some kind of slapstick comedy for the final chase scene but it is still effective. The star of the last half of the film is the custom Manta that has the stretched bonnet with four sets of wheels upfront.

To anyone outside Europe and in the UK the film might be described as quirky. This film will probably appeal to Europeans, anyone interested in German culture, anyone interested in car chases, and the eccentric comedy will be appreciated by the youngsters. Understanding German might be an advantage and also in places I felt I was missing the occasional cultural gag.

I still don't know what the deal is with the foxes tail on the car aerials!